Exciting news for Roger Federer (RF) fans! Roger has collaborated with Wilson tennis to create a new line of tennis racquets called the Wilson RF Collection. A testament to Federer’s popularity, this new racquet launch has garnered a lot of interest in the tennis community, with many playtester videos, reviews and selling out in many tennis shops. Here’s my quick low-down on this new launch.
Not a Wilson Pro Staff with Federer brand
One thing to note off the bat. This is not a Wilson Pro Staff with Federer branding, or a one-off collab. It is a completely redesigned racquet developed by Wilson together with Federer as playtester and designer. This new racquet project started over 2 years ago (April 2022) when Federer was rehabbing and taking some injury time off. In planning for his comeback on the tour, Federer wanted a lighter, faster racquet to be more competitive on tour, a racquet “to go through the air quickly” with fast racquet head speed where he can hit “short crosses” with more spin on the forehand side while still allowing him to play his aggressive offensive style of play.
3 racquet versions
Federer apparently tested over 14 different frames, and for his first Wilson RF Collection he is introducing 3 racquet versions:
- The RF Pro
- The RF One
- The RF Future
I took the following specifications from a tennis equipment reviewer website, and have highlighted the key specs to take note of:
Wilson RF Collection | Head Size | Strung Weight | Swing Weight | Stiffness |
The RF Pro | 98 sq in | 337g | 331 | 67 |
The RF One | 98 sq in | 318g | 319 | 64 |
The RF Future | 98 sq in | 295g | 301 | 64 |
Since all the head sizes are at 98 sq in, which is a good head size for all types of players, the key differentiating factor would be the weight of the racquets, and stiffness. Here is a general take on who the different versions are for:
Wilson RF Collection | Player Type | Likes |
The RF Pro | Advanced | Prefers heavier, stiffer racquets |
The RF One | Intermediate | Prefers racquets with a bit of weight but not as heavy as the Pro, and less stiff |
The RF Future | Beginner – early Intermediate | Prefers lighter racquets, something easier on the elbow |
Racquet Beam
The racquet beam shape has been named “SABR Frame Design”, a nod to Federer’s Sneak Attack By Roger, where he attacked his opponent’s first serve with a quick return of service and a surprise rush to the net to finish the point with a volley or smash.
Racquet Design
Federer wanted the design to be “elegant, stylish, classy” – pretty much how one would describe Federer himself (after all, he was voted GQ’s most stylish man of the decade in 2019). The base colour is classic black, with a fade at the top which has been described as a lighter anthracite. Two thin white pinstripes mark the frame, a nod to Wilson heritage and also apparently to Federer’s two sets of twins. One of the coolest things I like about the design is that the racquet butt cap has the “RF” logo. I cannot recall any other racquet manufacturer putting a player’s (or ex-player’s) logo/initials onto the butt cap of the racquet. I believe this is a stand-out feature for all Federer fans!
Bags to go with your racquet?
Watch out! There are also RF bags to consider to complement your new Wilson RF racquet, each with the classic black minimalist design aesthetics.
Should I go out and get one?
By all means, yes if you are a Federer fan who also likes Wilson racquets and likes to experiment with new tennis equipment! To me, it’s a bit of a collectible racquet, seeing that its Federer’s first official collab with Wilson (and with that nice-looking butt cap).
If you are a beginner looking for that first new racquet, I would recommend that you try some other racquets that are known to be very popular with beginners as well as intermediate players, like the easy-to-use Babolat Pure Drive and Yonex Ezone rqnge of racquets. The top 3 considerations for any beginner should be:
- The Head size (100 sq in. is the recommended size for beginners, for the bigger sweetspot making it easier to hit good tennis shots)
- The Weight (typically a lighter racquet so that its not too heavy on the arm – around 280 g)
- The Grip size (this is very important and often overlooked. Measure from the top of your ring finger to the crease in your palm. The measurement should be somewhere between 4 and 4 ¾ inches.)
Lastly, in choosing a racquet, it really comes down to personal preferences. I would say that you should also really like the design and colour, and also how it feels in your hand. If you like the colour and the way it looks, it would bring more excitement to your tennis games. And in terms of looks, I would say that the Wilson RF Collection hits the sweetspot!
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